Fault detector for gas engines



July 7, 1925. 1,545,090

" M. EVANS FAULTDETECTOR FOR GAS ENGINES Filed July 1, 1922 2o f 5 20 19 ,9 '19- y/ .18 L /|i 1 1O 11 2016 8 If? Z0 .Fule razor.- Michael Evans;

Patented July 7, 1925 UNITED STATES MICHAEL EVANS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAZIIA.

FAULT DETECTOR Application filed July 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL EvANs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fault Detectors for Gas Engines, of which the following is a specification.

lvfy invention relates to fault detectors for engines, and specifically considered it relates more particularly to a device adapted to be attached to the cylinder head of a gas engine, preferably at the place where the spark plug is usually located, whereby various motor troubles and the causes thereof may be readily detected and ascertained,such as faulty spark plugs, poor compression, or improper mixtures of the gas and air.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device adapted to be mounted in the cylinder head of a gas engine which will permit the observation, when desired, of the conditions existing within the cylinder of the engine during the operation thereof. A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described of such construction and arrangement that the device itself will be protected from strains and fouling during the normal operation of the engine, that is, when a it is not desired to observe the conditions within the cylinder.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a vertical, central, sectional view of a fault detector for gas engines embodying the main features of my invention, the same being shown mounted in the cylinder head of a gas engine of any preferred type, and having a spark plug of usual construction mounted on the device;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken approximately. on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating certain details of the device.

Referring to the drawings, in the particular embodiment of my invention therein shown, 5 is a casing or housing having a threaded portion 6 which is screwed into a complementally threaded opening in the cylinder head 7 of the gas engine in connection with which the device is used. Mounted FOR GAS ENGINES.

1922. Serial No. 572,196.

within the housing 5 is a plug member 8 having an extension 9 which is provided with a passageway 10 communicating with the interior of the cylinder. A nut 11 is threaded on the lower end of the extension 9 of the plug 8 and bears against the lower end of the threaded portion 6 of the housing 5, thereby serving to hold the plug member 8 within the housing 5. A flaring ground joint 12 may be provided between the upper end of the plug member and the housing 5 to prevent the escape of gases during the op eration of the engine.

A spark plug 13 of any preferred type is mounted at the upper end of the plug member 8, the interior of said upper end of the plug member 8 being threaded complementally to the threaded portion 14- of the spark plug 18. A chamber 15 is provided in the interior of the plug member 8 below the lower end of the threaded portion 14 of the spark plug 18, this chamber being in communication, by means of the passageway 10, hereinbefore described, with the interior of the cylinder in connection with which the device is used.

On opposite sides of the housing 5 there are provided threaded extensions 16 arranged in alinement with each other, and each of said threaded extensions 16 has mounted on the end thereof a threaded gland 17 which serves to hold a glass window member 18 on the end of the extension 16. Suitable gaskets 19 and 20' are provided to prevent the escape of gases past the glass window members 18. As before noted, the extensions 16 are hollow, that is, the same have passageways 21 extending from the plug member 8 to the window members 18. The plug member 8 is also provided with apertures 22 in the side walls thereof, these apertures being so disposed in alinement with each other as to be brought into communication with the passageways 21 of the extensions 16, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. I

The plug member 8 is also provided with an extending handle 23, whereby the plug member may be turned ninety degrees so as to close off the communication between the apertures 22 of said plug member and the passageways 21, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The plug member may also be provided at its upper end with an ex'-' tending portion 24, which may be provided with a sector slot which is engaged by "For example, if-the spark plug is not func* tioning properly,-either through a fault in the'plng itself or a fault in the ignition system, this will be readily'apparent to the observer, for the reason that no spark between the terminals of the spark plug will be perceptible, nor will any explosion of the 0011-. On the.

tents of the cylinder take place. other hand, if the fault be due to a'weak compression arising from any of the com mon causes of such faults, or from too lean or too rich a mixture of gas and air within the cylinder, this condition will be readily observedby reason of differences in the appearance or color at the time of the explosion of the gaseous mixture within the cylinder. It will also be readily understood that where the device is employed, adjustments of thecarburetor willbegreatly facilitated, as the result of changes in the adjust ment maybe observed by the operator as the same are made.

It will also be readily understood that during'the normal operation of the engine,

when it is not desired to observe the condi-.- tlons existing Wltlllll the cylinder of the engine, by turning the plug member 8 to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, communication between the chamber 15, in

the interior of the plug member -8, and the passageways 21 of the extension 16 will be cut off, and'thereby the glass window members 18 will be protected against the constant hammering which would otherwise result and which may'c'ause breakage, andthe same will also be protectedagainst contamination from carbon deposits WlllOll would obscure the ObSGIViItIODELt the tune the same'is desired.

By arranging the window members 18 in alin'ement with each other, if the same should become fouled, this condition may be readily observed by turning the plug member 8 to the open position and looking through saidfwindows, with the assistance of a light if required.

Having thus described the nature and characteristic features of my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure 'by Letters Patent is:

'1. A fault detector for gasengines comprising a device'havingth'e interior thereof in communication with the interior of the engine 0' linder, said device being interiorly threads to receive a spark plug of the ordinary type, and a window member mounted on the device, 'the'd'evice having a passageway extending from said window member to the interior, and means for cutting off the communication between the interior of the device and the passageway extending from the window member.

2. A fault detector for gas engines comprising a device having the interior thereof in communication with the interior of the engine cylinder, said device being interiorly threaded to receive a spark plug of the ordinary type, a pair of window members mounted on the device in alinement with each other, the device having .passagewa s extending from said window members tot e interior, andmeans for cuttingofi' thecommunication between the interior of the (device and the :passageways extending from the window members. g

3. A fault'detector for gas engines comprising a housing "member mounted in the cylinder of the engine, a plug member mounted in said housinghaving the interior thereof in communication with the interior of the engine cylinder, saidzplug member being interior'ly threaded to receive a Spark plug of the ordinary type, and a window men'iber mounted on saidhousing, said housing having a passageway extending from said window member to the .plug member, the plug member having an aperture extendingto the interior thereof, and said aperture being adoptedto register with saidpassage way.

prising a housing member mounted in the cylinder of the engine, a, plug member mounted -m 'Sfllfl housing having the interior thereof in communication with the interior of the engine cylinder, said plug member being interiorly threaded to receive a spark plug of' the ordinary type, and a pair of window members mounted on said housing in alinement witheach other, said housin havingpassageways' extending from said window members to-the plug member, the plug member having apertures extending to the interior thereof, and said apertures being-adapted to register with said passageways.

5. A fault detector for gas engines comprising a housing membermounted in the cylinder of the engine, a plu' member mounted in said housing having t is interior thereof in communication withthe interior of the engine'cylinde'r, said plug member being interiorly threaded to receive a spark plug of the ordinary type, a window member mounted on said housing, said housin having a passageway extending fromsaid window member to the plug member, the plug member having an aperture extending '4. A fault detector for gas enginesconb liil) to the interior thereof, said aperture being adapted to register with said passageway, and means for rotating the plug member to thereby out off the communication between the interior of the plug member and said passageway.

6. A fault detector for gas engines comprising .a housing member mounted in the cylinder of the engine, a plug member mounted in said housing having the interior thereof in connnunication with the interior of the. engine cylinder, said plug member being interiorly threaded to receive a spark plug of the ordinary type, a pair of window members mounted on said housing in alinement with each other, said housing having passageways extending from said window" members to the plug member, the plug member having apertures extending to the interior thereof, said apertures being adapted to register with said passageways, and means for rotating the plug member tothereby cut off the communication between the interior of the plug member and said passageways.

7. A fault detector for gas engines comprising a housing member mounted in the cylinder of the engine, a plug member mounted in said housing having the interior thereof in communication with the interior of the engine cylinder, said plug member being interiorly threaded to receive a spark plug of the ordinary type, a window mem ber mounted on said housing, said housing having a passageway extending from said window member to the plug member, the plug member having an aperture extending to the interior thereof, said aperture being adapted to register with said passageway, means for rotating the plug member to thereby cut off the communication between the interior of the plug member and said passageway, and means for limiting the positions of said plug member.

8. A fault detector for gas engines comprising a housing member mounted in the cylinder of the engine, a plug member mounted in said housing having the interior thereof in communication with the interior of the engine cylinder, said plug member being interiorly threaded to receive a spark plug of the ordinary type, a pairof window members mounted on said housing in alinement with each other, said housing having passageways extending from said window members to the plug member, the plug member having apertures extending to the interior thereof, said apertures being adapted to register with said passageways, means for rotating the plug member to thereby out off the communication between the interior of the plug member and said passageways, and means for limiting the positions of said plug member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

MICHAEL EVANS. 

